Molecular immunology
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Molecular immunology · Mar 2016
MicroRNA-21 as a novel biomarker in diagnosis and response to therapy in asthmatic children.
The underlying molecular mechanisms leading to asthma remain largely unclear. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short noncoding RNAs exert powerful effects on immunological function by tuning networks of target genes that orchestrate cell activity. However, the role of miRNAs, specifically microRNA-21 (miRNA- 21), in the regulation of allergic airway inflammation is not well defined. Our aim was to investigate the serum miRNA- 21 expression levels as potential biomarker in childhood asthma [with, without inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) therapy, and steroid resistant (SR)]; and their possible contributions in disease status, its molecular target interleukin-12 (IL-12) p35, and response to therapy. ⋯ This study suggested that serum miRNA-21 is stable and detectable in serum of asthmatic children, which could promise potential biomarker in diagnosis as well as in response to therapy of asthma.